Messi crowned 2014/15 UEFA Best Player

Barcelona's Lionel Messi has won the 2014/15 UEFA Best Player Award after leading the Catalan giants to a Treble last season.

Messi, recipient of the inaugural prize in 2011, got the most votes in the 30-second instant voting done by 54 journalists present at the venue in Monaco.

He finished ahead of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and club-mate Luis Suárez.

"This award belongs to my teammates. We had an amazing year, the squad was very united, and luckily we could reach our objectives", said Messi.

The fourth to tenth positions were already fixed after each reporter picked his top three players, with the first, second and third getting three, two and one point respectively.

Other positions4 Gianluigi Buffon (Italy – Juventus) 24 points5 Neymar (Brazil – Barcelona) 236 Eden Hazard (Belgium – Chelsea) 217 Andrea Pirlo (Italy – Juventus) 128 Arturo Vidal (Chile – Juventus, now Bayern München) 119 Carlos Tévez (Argentina – Juventus, now Boca Juniors) 810 Paul Pogba (France – Juventus) 5